306
C. Marquina
acids etc. to be concentrated in a specific part or organ of a plant (e.g., where a parasite or infection is located, or where the nutrients are going to be adsorbed in a more
effective manner, etc. [52]). An advantage of using the Fe@C and the Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2
nanoparticles in these applications is the high specific surface area of the coating,
which offers a high load capacity [49, 53]. This could help in the optimization of the
dose to be delivered, without the need of repeating the treatment, which would lead
to more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices and methods.
In any case, taking these ideas to practice requires, among other issues, the study of
the nanoparticle response when a magnetic field gradient is applied to the plant, and
the analysis of their transport and distribution in planta. The experiments conducted
for this purpose are presented in the following sections. They were carried out with
Fe@C nanoparticles and different type of crops [52, 54, 55], constituting a pioneering
work regarding the use of magnetic nanoparticles in whole alive plants. Next section
also reports what, to our knowledge, is the first study on the interaction between
magnetic nanoparticles and fungal cells. The final objective was to evaluate the
feasibility of new nanotechnology-based strategies for the early detection and control
of pathogenic fungi in plants, crops and soils [48]. The final goal was the design
of a biosensor combining immunological recognition and magnetic detection [17,
18]. In this case, the study was performed with Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanoparticles, given
the possibility to functionalize the coating with an antibody that recognized the
pathogenic fungus. The target is Fusarium oxysporum, a soil borne plant pathogen
that infects a vast variety of crops and is the cause of important economic losses [56].
It is also an opportunistic human pathogen and infection can also result in the death
of immunocompromised patients [57]. To date there are neither effective methods
for an early detection of the fungus, nor treatments for a complete elimination. In
the case of F. oxysporum the problem is even more complex, because pathogenic
strains cohabit in the rhizosphere with nonpathogenic strains, leading to biological
control [58]. Therefore, in the present case an adequate functionalization strategy
that ensures the high selectivity and sensitivity in the detection prior to the treatment
is crucial. In addition, a comprehensive study of the behavior of the fungus in the
presence of the nanoparticles, as the one reported here, and a deep knowledge of the
toxicity profile of these nanomaterials are also decisive.
13.2 Penetration and Transport of Magnetic Nanoparticles
in Living Plants
The aim of this work was to visualize the transport of nanoparticles inside living
plants, and also to investigate whether the nanoparticles respond to the application
of magnetic field gradients, with the objective of concentrating them in localized
areas of the plants by the use of small magnets. As mentioned before, the work
described from here on was carried out with whole living plants.
C. Marquina
acids etc. to be concentrated in a specific part or organ of a plant (e.g., where a parasite or infection is located, or where the nutrients are going to be adsorbed in a more
effective manner, etc. [52]). An advantage of using the Fe@C and the Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2
nanoparticles in these applications is the high specific surface area of the coating,
which offers a high load capacity [49, 53]. This could help in the optimization of the
dose to be delivered, without the need of repeating the treatment, which would lead
to more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices and methods.
In any case, taking these ideas to practice requires, among other issues, the study of
the nanoparticle response when a magnetic field gradient is applied to the plant, and
the analysis of their transport and distribution in planta. The experiments conducted
for this purpose are presented in the following sections. They were carried out with
Fe@C nanoparticles and different type of crops [52, 54, 55], constituting a pioneering
work regarding the use of magnetic nanoparticles in whole alive plants. Next section
also reports what, to our knowledge, is the first study on the interaction between
magnetic nanoparticles and fungal cells. The final objective was to evaluate the
feasibility of new nanotechnology-based strategies for the early detection and control
of pathogenic fungi in plants, crops and soils [48]. The final goal was the design
of a biosensor combining immunological recognition and magnetic detection [17,
18]. In this case, the study was performed with Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanoparticles, given
the possibility to functionalize the coating with an antibody that recognized the
pathogenic fungus. The target is Fusarium oxysporum, a soil borne plant pathogen
that infects a vast variety of crops and is the cause of important economic losses [56].
It is also an opportunistic human pathogen and infection can also result in the death
of immunocompromised patients [57]. To date there are neither effective methods
for an early detection of the fungus, nor treatments for a complete elimination. In
the case of F. oxysporum the problem is even more complex, because pathogenic
strains cohabit in the rhizosphere with nonpathogenic strains, leading to biological
control [58]. Therefore, in the present case an adequate functionalization strategy
that ensures the high selectivity and sensitivity in the detection prior to the treatment
is crucial. In addition, a comprehensive study of the behavior of the fungus in the
presence of the nanoparticles, as the one reported here, and a deep knowledge of the
toxicity profile of these nanomaterials are also decisive.
13.2 Penetration and Transport of Magnetic Nanoparticles
in Living Plants
The aim of this work was to visualize the transport of nanoparticles inside living
plants, and also to investigate whether the nanoparticles respond to the application
of magnetic field gradients, with the objective of concentrating them in localized
areas of the plants by the use of small magnets. As mentioned before, the work
described from here on was carried out with whole living plants.